Mail theft 'a deeply serious failure'

Hundreds of complaints from residents in the area about missing mail have been made to NZ Post during the past two years. Photo / File photo

New Zealand Post's communications manager says he feels betrayed after a Queenstown postal delivery woman was arrested and charged with theft after allegedly accumulating thousands of envelopes, magazines and mail packages over two years.

A 32-year-old Queenstown woman, contracted by NZ Post, was arrested on Friday by Queenstown police after they were notified by the company of concerns over undelivered mail to the Fernhill area.

Police began an investigation on Friday and made the arrest after they recovered a substantial amount of mail, including parcels and letters.

NZ Post media communications manager Michael Tull said the alleged crime was "a deeply serious failure" by the individual and the company was "completely disappointed".

"There is no excuse for it and we apologise to those who have been affected.

"There is a sense of betrayal. This is someone you place trust in and the public place trust in."

Hundreds of complaints from residents in the area about missing mail have been made to NZ Post during the past two years.

Detective Grant Miller, of Queenstown, said "thousands" of mailed envelopes and packages were retrieved from the woman's address, which she shared with flatmates.